A COUNCILLOR fears for the future of business in Blackwood, after Caerphilly Council repeatedly refused to change policy which could allow a Morrisons supermarket to open.

In the coming weeks, Blackwood Gate retail park could be almost entirely deserted after Focus DIY stores fell into administration last month.

And Councillor Nigel Dix believes the council is to blame because of their “unwillingness” to change planning consent to allow food retailers on the site as well as white goods.

He said: “Develica, the site owner, has tried and failed on two occasions to change the planning consent. In 2008, Sainsbury’s wanted to move there, which would have increased footfall and trade for Focus. But they couldn’t move because the council wouldn’t allow food retailers to go there.

“Had the appeal been successful then I believe Blackwood’s Focus store may have been one of the money-making branches bought up by other big DIY chains, and essentially saved from closure.

“Now we are in a similar situation, with Morrisons supermarket keen to come to Blackwood, creating 250 jobs in the process. But until the council change their mind then they can’t come to this site.”

The retail park opened in November 2006 to high hopes it would help underpin Blackwood’s position as a major regional retail centre as well as create jobs.

Focus was there from the start, and in 2008, the Marston’s Bumble Bee pub opened.

If the Focus does leave, which looks highly likely, then the pub will be all that is left on site.

Shawn Cullen, Develica’s planning consultant, said in the next few months they are looking at applying to the council to change consent, once again.

“The last time we applied, one of the reasons we were turned down was because the council were concerned it could take business away from the new Bargoed development,” he said.

“But we have high hopes of a change of heart now because if we don’t secure a consent, we don’t know what we will do.

“If Focus leaves there will be 85,000 sq ft of units there standing empty. There will be no income on site, and there will be problems for us.”

Coun Dix, who has been holding talks with Develica, said members of the community have voiced their concerns to him about the empty retail park.

He added: “I am angry that the council have failed to support it. Let’s be clear, the council should do all it can to create jobs and I cannot imagine any other authority that is willing to throw away 250 jobs.

“I think it’s a dangerous game, because when outside investors see what’s happened to this multi million pound investment, they will say that Blackwood is not the place to do business.”

No comment had been received from Caerphilly Council at the time of going to print.